Fire damages Sterling home

STERLING — Three people were displaced and their home heavily damaged by a two-alarm fire that broke out at 9 Waushacum Ave. while the family was out shopping.

Deputy Fire Chief David Day said heavy smoke was visible from the eaves of all four sides of the two-story, single-family house when firefighters arrived to investigate the 5:37 p.m. alarm. A second alarm was called and mutual aid was provided by fire crews from Clinton, Lancaster and West Boylston. Leominster covered the Sterling fire station.

No one was injured in the fire, which caused an estimated $100,000 damage.

Deputy Chief Day said the cause of the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal's office. It appeared to have started in the first-floor kitchen and bathroom area, he said. The first floor was gutted by the fire and the second floor sustained substantial smoke and water damage, he said.

It took firefighters a little more than an hour to bring the fire under control, the deputy chief said. Firefighters had difficulty getting at the flames, which had gotten between the first-floor ceiling and the second-floor floor joists, as well as spread to an attic crawl space, he said.

Deputy Chief Day said the American Red Cross of Central Mass responded to provide assistance to the family — a married couple and their child.

He said the family had been out shopping and saw the smoke when they returned.